Reducing Teacher Burden

Scotland's largest teaching union has welcomed a commitment to reduce teacher workloads.

Education Secretary Mike Russell has made the pledge.

He's also promised to increase, or at least maintain, teacher numbers north of the border. 

Mr Russell wants each local authority to work actively to reduce workload and bureaucracy in schools in line with the national Tackling Bureaucracy Report. 
 
EIS General Secretary Larry Flanagan said:

"The EIS was pleased to note the positive comments that the Cabinet Secretary made at the Committee today about the work of teachers in schools across Scotland. We particularly welcome Mr Russell's comments on the need to cut workload in schools across Scotland, and the importance of local authorities collaborating to deliver the recommendations of the Tackling Bureaucracy Report. It is clear that this renewed emphasis is needed to overcome the current, often patchy, progress on reducing bureaucracy and lightening teacher workload across the country."
 
Mr Flanagan added:

"The Cabinet Secretary's commitment to maintaining, or increasing, teacher numbers is particularly noteworthy. Maintaining teacher numbers in order to create jobs, minimise class sizes, and reduce excessive teacher workload was one of the key elements of the last negotiated teaching agreement. The fact that the Cabinet Secretary has publicly stated his commitment to continuing this policy and, indeed, to potentially expanding the number of teachers working in schools is a highly significant and extremely welcome development."